Folding grate.



J. L. MOORE.

FOLDING GRATE.

APPLICATION men was. 1914.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Inventor Attorneys Witnesses p I xjw will be held against accidental extension.

"JOHN L. MOORE, or ALEXANDRIA, MINNESOTA.

romaine GRATE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN L. MOORE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Alexandria, in the county of Douglas and State of Minnesota, haveinvented a new and useful Folding Grate, of which thefollowing is a specification. This invention relates to grates and more particularly to one which is adapted to fold to thus be readily transported about, forming a convenient and useful article for campers, explorers, etc. 7

A further object is to provide a grate including an extensible and contractible top formed of a plurality of members so that it may support a number of articles at one time and in a stable manner.

A further object is to provide a grate including a lazy tong structure for the top, and legs pivotally secured thereto, which are so arranged that when the top is collapsed and the legs folded thereagainst, the top ith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof, the preferred embodiment of my invention has been shown, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved folding grate, illustrating the same in an extended and usable position. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View thereof, illustrating the same as collapsed. 'Fig. 3 is a detailview of one of the hinge joints of the legs.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the lazy tongs 4 are provided with the end bars 55 which have the alternately arranged downwardly extending flanges The lazy tongs when folded have the end bars 5-5 extending one over the other, and for which reason the alternate arrangement of the flanges is provided. The alter- Specification of Letters Patent. P te t m 4, 1 5. Application filed August 8,

1914. seriaiivo. 855,856. X

nate arrangement. the flanges refers to the fact that as illustrated in Fig. '2, the

flange 6" occurs upon the inner edge of the bar 5 whereas the flange 6 is provided upon the outer edge of the bar 5. This alternate arrangement is made necessary by the fact that the inner edge 7 of the bar 5 passes over the adjacent edge 8 of the bar 5. The alternate arrangement of the flanges is also referred to in detail due to the fact that the legs 9 which are pivoted to the flanges contact with the flange opposite to the one to which they are pivoted. Also attention is called to the fact that as illustrated clearly in Fig. 2, the legs are pivoted to the flanges in such manner that when the legs are folded they will engage the opposite flange and hold the lazy tongs collapsed.

In order to prevent spreading of the legs to too great an extent, they are provided with the rounded upper extremities 10 I which are adapted to engage the under surfaces of the end bars and thus be limited to a vertical or substantially vertical position. The folding grate as thus constructed will be exceedingly light in weight and when collapsed occupies an extremely small space, thus allowing it to be conveniently and efficiently used by camping parties and for allied purposes.- The plurality of members which make up the lazy tongs allows a number of articles to be simultaneously supported. If only one article is to be sup ported, the lazy tongs may be opened to a slight extent only, or they may be completely opened for the support of the maximum number of articles if it be so required. The manner in which the legs hold the tongs in a collapsed condition will be readily understood by referring to Fig. 2 wherein it will be apparent that the legs 9 are disposed against the outer surface of the flanges 6. If attempt is now made to open the lazy tongs, this will be prevented by the fact that although the flanges 6 and 6 tend to advance at the same rate, the angularity of the end bars changes with the result that the ends 11 of the legs 9 will be moved in a direction opposite to the movement of the flanges 6 which thus precludes any such relative motion.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. A device of the class described, comprising lazy tongs, legs pivotally connected to the end bars thereof, said legs when (201- cured to said flanges, said legs when folded lapsed engaging the end bars and holding against said flanges rigidlylocking said the lazy tongs against extension. lazy tongs in a collapsed condition.

2. A collapsible support comprising lazy I In testimony that I claim the foregoing 15 5 tongs, legs pivotally secured thereto, said as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signalegs adapted to plolllzltp'se thereagaijrfistfisaid ture in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

egs coacting Wit t e lazy tongs or 0c ing thelatter in a collapsed condition. JOHN MOORE 3. A device of the class described, com- WVitnesses: o prising. lazy tongs, alternately. arranged ANDREW JAooBsoN, flanges carried thereby, legs pivotally se- W. F. HABERER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

